Direct-entry MSN programs

BCzito · Aug 15, 2005

I was an English major undergrad at Providence a loooong time ago - graduated in '96. I worked in Human Resources and Recruiting after school and then stayed home for the past three years while we had our girls (ages 1 and 3). I have no science background at all other than the prereqs. I did volunteer at a hospital the year before I applied to programs.
I became interested in nursing during my pregnancies- and I'm going for Women's Health. I'm super nervous about the workload and balancing school and family. We live in Watertown. I grew up in MA on the so. shore. My pic is up on Agora too, but it is hideous. That day I went to get my ID it was about 100 degrees and I had a wiggling infant on my lap LOL.
I'm waiting till orientation to get my books. I didn't want to wig myself out on vacation by thinking about them, you know? Nice to meet you- see you on the first!
-Jess

I have talked to some other people who are starting the MEP at BC who are going back to school and have a family and children. They seemed to express the same concerns as you, so know that you're not alone. I don't have children, but I have allot of anxiety about the time commitment and basically just being exhausted, but it will work out.

take care!

Jess RN · Aug 15, 2005

I have talked to some other people who are starting the MEP at BC who are going back to school and have a family and children. They seemed to express the same concerns as you, so know that you're not alone. I don't have children, but I have allot of anxiety about the time commitment and basically just being exhausted, but it will work out.
take care!

Oh that's good to know I won't be alone! It will be a tough program for all of us, no doubt, but we'll just muddle through. I have to catch a plane in 4 hrs and am not done packing yet so I'm off!

-Jess

elizabells, BSN, RN · Aug 15, 2005

I'M SO BOOOOOORED

After two months of nonstop nursing madness, I've been home for a week and I'm ready to poke my eyes out. I can't wait to get back and get started again! I finished Harry Potter in less than a day and now I'm just...sitting around while my parents are at work. I feel so guilty for not wanting to be here anymore...oh well. I miss school, I'm a nerd, but we knew that already!

Have fun in Hawaii, Jess. Smell the sugar cane for me!

smile123 · Aug 15, 2005

I'M SO BOOOOOORED
After two months of nonstop nursing madness, I've been home for a week and I'm ready to poke my eyes out. I can't wait to get back and get started again! I finished Harry Potter in less than a day and now I'm just...sitting around while my parents are at work. I feel so guilty for not wanting to be here anymore...oh well. I miss school, I'm a nerd, but we knew that already!
Have fun in Hawaii, Jess. Smell the sugar cane for me!

Hey Elizabells,

I'm relaxing in Seattle visiting family and friends. It's nice not to be on the go go go all the time. I remember you brought your med/surg books with you for next semester. Perhaps you could peruse them. Or go on a hike, walk on the beach, or call up some other non-nursing friends and see how they are doing. I know it's going to be very busy when I get back to school, so I'm relishing this vacation now!

Are you in S. Cal or N. Cal?

Smile123

elizabells, BSN, RN · Aug 15, 2005

Hey Elizabells,
I'm relaxing in Seattle visiting family and friends. It's nice not to be on the go go go all the time. I remember you brought your med/surg books with you for next semester. Perhaps you could peruse them. Or go on a hike, walk on the beach, or call up some other non-nursing friends and see how they are doing. I know it's going to be very busy when I get back to school, so I'm relishing this vacation now!
Are you in S. Cal or N. Cal?
Smile123

Hey Smile

I'm in NCal - Berkeley area, and it's cold and icky. Not that I miss the mad humidity of NY, but still, this is my summer vac! I did just call up an old friend and we're going to meet for coffee in a bit. I didn't realize that not needing a car in NY does not = not having a car in CA. Right, I should read my med-surg. And quit smoking. I should get right on that...

smile123 · Aug 15, 2005

Hey Smile
I'm in NCal - Berkeley area, and it's cold and icky. Not that I miss the mad humidity of NY, but still, this is my summer vac! I did just call up an old friend and we're going to meet for coffee in a bit. I didn't realize that not needing a car in NY does not = not having a car in CA. Right, I should read my med-surg. And quit smoking. I should get right on that...

Hi Elizabells,

I'll be down near Stanford next week, so if you want, we could actually meet face to face (how novel!). We can compare notes! You can PM me if you like. Hang in there!

Smile123

bruinlaura · Aug 15, 2005

Internet! Oh how I've missed you. I just got back from a relaxing week on San Clemente beach and my lodging had no internet connection and I couldn't check my email or my grades. It was torture! (well actually, the beach distracted me most hours of the day). :)

It has been very pleasant weather-wise in SoCal. I heard it was 100 degrees in NYC on Sat. Soooo glad I've escaped for August!

I'm also having trouble finding things to do with myself. I've gone through 3 books already. After two months of nonstop the transition to nothing to do was very abrupt. I'm trying to enjoy it while it lasts.

Well I'm going to go internet window shopping for my apartment now. Bye.

~Laura

Cardiology EP NP · Aug 17, 2005

I attend Depaul's MSN direct entry program. I have one year left. Get ready folks for those of you who are starting. I would say it's pretty demanding. I just finished taking 4 classes over the course of the summer and the last 5 weeks have been torchure! I'm glad I'm done but it has been extremely stressful. best thing to do - don't work too much so you have time to study. I work quite a few hours per week to keep up my insurance benefit and plus I need the cash, but if I didn't have to do, I wouldn't. All the study time and coursework takes up a lot of time.

Good luck to all those who are starting!

Internet! Oh how I've missed you. I just got back from a relaxing week on San Clemente beach and my lodging had no internet connection and I couldn't check my email or my grades. It was torture! (well actually, the beach distracted me most hours of the day). :)
It has been very pleasant weather-wise in SoCal. I heard it was 100 degrees in NYC on Sat. Soooo glad I've escaped for August!
I'm also having trouble finding things to do with myself. I've gone through 3 books already. After two months of nonstop the transition to nothing to do was very abrupt. I'm trying to enjoy it while it lasts.
Well I'm going to go internet window shopping for my apartment now. Bye.
~Laura

Gennaver, MSN · Aug 17, 2005

I attend Depaul's MSN direct entry program. I...
...I just finished taking 4 classes over the course of the summer and the last 5 weeks have been torchure! ...
Good luck to all those who are starting!

Hello Helper,

Some of us new DePaul MENP students are adding a summer class to our fall courseload, and one to the winter quarter to lighten the summer load. I originally signed up for NSG 430, (nursing ethics/politics) which would make my autumn quarter 18 credits, (versus 16). However, I really wondered if that would be just too much and decided to drop it.

If you would share your opinion about picking up a two credit hour course during the autumn and winter quarter is welcome! Would it truly be too much or would it be worth it to ease up the summer courseload?

Thanks!

Genn

Cardiology EP NP · Aug 18, 2005

18 credits is an awful lot for the fall quarter. for your first quarter you will have some very difficult courses. Pharmacology is ALOT of work. Some of our pharm lecture outlines were over 50 pages. You can PM me and we can chat more about this if you would like to. You will have quizzes every week in pharm if you have the same teacher I had which I think you might but I don't know for sure.

Also, Assessment is not a very easy class either and requires quite a bit of reading and memorizing. so if you want to take these difficult courses with 430, you can do that but i think it might be a little overwhelming. If you want a break in the summer then it may be a good idea, but just know that the fall quarter will be incredibly busy and you shouldn't plan on working with 18 credits. I don't want to make any recommendations and you know yourself best and what your comfort level is.

Me personally, I took 4 courses this summer and even though I didn't have a summer, I'm glad I did it because I really have to work 20 plus hours a week during the year and there is no way I can take 4 or more courses and do well. I know what my limits are and I had to limit myself to 3 courses per quarter with working during the year and that was plenty. This way I still had enough time to study and go to work so I can pay my bills.

You can PM if you have further questions.

Take care and good luck! It is a very challenging program, but definitely worth the time, money and energy involved.

Hello Helper,
Some of us new DePaul MENP students are adding a summer class to our fall courseload, and one to the winter quarter to lighten the summer load. I originally signed up for NSG 430, (nursing ethics/politics) which would make my autumn quarter 18 credits, (versus 16). However, I really wondered if that would be just too much and decided to drop it.
If you would share your opinion about picking up a two credit hour course during the autumn and winter quarter is welcome! Would it truly be too much or would it be worth it to ease up the summer courseload?
Thanks!
Genn

jhoonk · Aug 18, 2005

Hi, Helper,

I applied to Jan 2006 MENP at DePaul. Got much info from

Genn here but still not sure what the attrition rate was

for the first year of your class. And how many male students

do you have in your class? Are they doing just fine as

other students? Thanks.

Amitai.

Gennaver, MSN · Aug 18, 2005

18 credits is an awful lot for the fall quarter. for your first quarter you will have some very difficult courses. Pharmacology is ALOT of work. Some of our pharm lecture outlines were over 50 pages. You can PM me and we can chat more about this if you would like to. You will have quizzes every week in pharm if you have the same teacher I had which I think you might but I don't know for sure.
...
You can PM if you have further questions.
Take care and good luck! It is a very challenging program, but definitely worth the time, money and energy involved.

Thanks Helper!

I will indeed leave my fall quarter with the three classes, (16 quarter credits). Is it okay to share your post with the cohort? One new student is taking the 430 in the fall and another one is debating it. Your information helped me and may help them too.

Genn